Thread counting device



Oct. 19, 1937. J. B BURGARD 2,096,659

THREAD COUNTING DEVICE Filed April 4. 193a cu f;

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES THREAD COUNTING DEVICE Joseph B. Burgard, Greenville, S. (2.. Application April 4, 1936, Serial No. 72,792

6 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in pick or thread counting device'for use in counting the number of threads in a unit of length of cloth.

Such devices as commonly constructed are characterized by a graduated scale for comparison with a like number of threads in a selected unit of length of cloth to ascertain the number of threads in said unit. Devices'so characterized are open to the objection that the scale is invariable as regards the spacing and the number of graduations for comparison with a selected unit the result of which is that it is practically impossible with the same device to make a comparison count of the number of threads in cloths in each of which the number and the spacing of the threads per unit of length is different from that in the others.

With the foregoing in mind, the principal object of my invention, generally stated, is to provide a thread counting devicewhich is adaptable for use in making an exact comparison count of threads in a wide variety of cloths in each of which the number and the spacing of the threads per selected unit of length is difierent from that in the others.

More specifically, the primary object of my invention is to provide a thread counting device equipped with a wide variety of scales each comprising a different number of graduations per inch and per centimeter readily positionable selectively over the cloth for comparison with like units of length of the latter and without moving the device off the cloth, the device being easily convertible for use of the same scales in comparing either inch or centimeter units of length of cloth.

Other objects are to provide a device for the purposes set forth which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, durable, and readily movable over the cloth to a selected position.

tion taken on the line 44 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrowst I V Figure 5 is a view in end elevation, and

Figure 6 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2 looking in the direc- 5 tion indicated by the arrows.

.Refer'ring'to the drawing by numeral, my invention comprises a rectangular flat base plate I, of any suitable material such as light metal or wood, and supporting a substantially rectangular 10 frame 2. The frame 2 comprises a pair of opposed standards 3, at each end of the base plate I, the standards of each pair being connected at their upper ends by a transverse bar 4. The standards 3 on opposite sides of the base plate I 15 are connected by longitudinally extending bars 5 'said, bars being grooved on their sides as at 6 and providing guideways for a magnifying glass "I mounted at its edges in the groove 6 for sliding movement longitudinally of said bars.

A pair of reels 8, of any suitable construction; are journaled between the standards 3 at opposite ends of, the base plate I, respectively. A tape 9 of any suitable material, preferably steel, has its opposite ends reversely wound around said reels 25 8 said tape extending downwardly from said reels around the, ends of the base plate I and under the latter in a straight run indicated at I0. Preferably the under face of the base plate I is grooved as at I I to form a guideway for the run 30 II! and so that the latter will seat therein flush with the bottom face of said base plate. Midway of its ends the base plate I is provided with a cutout forming a sight opening I2 through which the tape 9 is visibleand having straight side 35 edges l3 and open at the front of the base plate I. The sight opening I2 is an inch wide lengthwise of the base plate I. The tape 9 is divided by markings or scorings I4, throughout substantially its full length, into inch sections I5, the 40 sections I5 are numbered as at I6 the numbering being consecutive. The sections I5 are marked with graduations I1 corresponding in number to the numbering of the sections.

At each side of the sight opening I2 is a flap I8 45 hinged to the base plate I as at I9 to fold downwardly into the sight opening I2 and thereby restrict the size of the same to the width of a centimeter. Each section I5 is also numbered as at 26 to indicate the number of graduations in 50 the section into which a centimeter is divisible.

In the use of my novel device, in counting threads in inch units of length of cloth, the latter is first spread out upon a flat support. The base plate I of the device is then positioned flat upon 55 the cloth and manipulated, with the aid of the glass 1, until the right hand edge l3 of the sight opening I2 is aligned with a thread. The reels 8 are then manipulated until the scoring I4 of the appropriate scale I5 are aligned with the edges l3 of the sight opening l2 the selection of the scale being made by alignment of the graduations l1 thereof with the threads of the cloth. A comparison count may then be proceeded with in a manner which it is believed will be clearwithout further explanation.

In counting threadsin centimeter units the flaps l8 are folded down into the sight opening I 2, otherwise the procedure is substantially the same as described above.

The foregoing is a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is to be understood that it is illustrative rather than descriptive and that right is herein reserved to changes and modifications falling within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. A device for use in counting threads in cloth and comprising, a flat base plate adapted to be positioned upon the cloth and having a sight opening therein through which the cloth is visible, a pair of reels mounted upon the base plate upon opposite sides of the sight opening, respectively, and a graduated tape having its ends wound upon said reels and a straight run extending across said base and sight opening, said run being guided upon said base for movement across said opening, said tape being divided into predetermined graduated sections with the graduations of each section differently spaced.

2. A device for use in counting threads in cloth and comprising, a flat base plate adapted to be positioned upon the cloth and having a sight opening therein through which the cloth is visible, a pair of reels mounted upon the base plate upon opposite sides of the sight opening, respectively,

and a graduated tape having its ends wound upon said reels and a straight run extending across the base and sight opening on the underside of the base and countersunk in said underside fiush therewith, said tape being divided into predetermined graduated sections with the graduations of each section differently spaced.

3. A device for use in counting threads in cloth and comprising, a flat base plate adapted to be positioned upon the cloth and having a sight opening therein through which the cloth is visible, a pair of reels mounted upon the base plate upon opposite sides of the sight opening, respectively, and a tape having its ends wound upon said reels and a straight run extending across said base and sight opening, said tape having markings thereon dividing the same into sections of uniform length each section being differently graduated.

4. A device for use in counting threads in cloth and comprising, a flat base plate adapted to be positioned upon the clothand having a substantially rectangular sight'opening therein through which the cloth is visible, a pair of reels mounted upon the base plate upon opposite sides of the sight opening, respectively, and a tape having its ends wound upon said reels and a straight run extending across said base and sight opening, said tape having markings thereon dividing the same into sections of the same width as that of the' sight opening, each section being differently graduated.

5. A device for use in counting threads in cloth and comprising, a flat base plate adapted to be positioned upon the cloth and having a sight opening therein through which the cloth is vissaid base and sight opening, said tape having markings thereon dividing the same into sections of uniform length, said sections being numbered consecutively and provided with graduations corresponding in number to the numbering of said sections.

6. A device for use in counting threads in cloth and comprising, a fiat base plate adapted to be positioned upon the cloth and having a substantially rectangular sight opening therein through which the cloth is visible, a pair of reels mounted upon the base plate upon opposite sides of said opening, respectively, a tape having its ends wound upon said reels and a straight run extending across said base and sight opening, said tape having markings thereon dividing the same into differently graduated sections of the same width as that of the sight opening, and a pair of flaps hinged to the base upon opposite sides of the sight opening, respectively, and foldable into said sight opening to restrict the width thereof.

JOSEPH B. BURGARD. 

